Contact: Laura Hayes, ALA

312-280-5055

lhayes@ala.org

For Immediate Release

August 20, 2004

34 libraries to receive grant for Jewish literature discussion
program; additional grants still available

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and Nextbook, a gateway to Jewish literature, culture and ideas, have selected 34 public and academic libraries to receive grants to host Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature programs.    Based on the Let's Talk About It reading and discussion model pioneered nationally by ALA starting in 1982, Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature features four new themes exploring Jewish literature and culture.  Participating libraries will each host a five-part scholar-led discussion series featuring one of the four new themes.

The libraries selected to receive Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature grants are (in alphabetical order by state):

• Emmet O'Neal Public Library, Mountain Brook, Ala.
• Montgomery City County Public Library, Montgomery, Ala. 
• University of Alabama University Libraries, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• Santa Monica Public Library, Santa Monica, Calif.
• Broward County Library, Tamarac Branch, Tamarac, Fla.
• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Peachtree Branch, Atlanta
• University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho
• Champaign Public Library, Champaign, Ill.
• Glencoe Public Library, Glencoe, Ill.
• Skokie Public Library, Skokie, Ill.
• University of Chicago, CAPS Library, Chicago
• Towson University, Albert S. Cook Library, Towson, Md.
• Newton Free Library, Newton, Mass.
• Belfast Free Library, Belfast, Maine
• Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, Mich.
• Farmington Community Library, Farmington Hills, Mich.
• Great Neck Library, Great Neck, N.Y.
• Onondaga County Public Library, Petit Branch, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Port Washington Public Library, Port Washington, N.Y.
• Poughkeepsie Public Library, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
• State University of New York, Sojourner Truth Library, New Paltz, N.Y.
• St. Joseph's College, Callahan Library, Patchogue, N.Y.
• Akron-Summit County Public Library, Akron, Ohio
• Huron Public Library, Huron, Ohio
• Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Cincinnati
• Shaker Heights Public Library, Shaker Heights, Ohio
• Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, Oklahoma City
• Delaware County Library System, Swarthmore Public Library, Swarthmore, Pa.
• Susquehanna University, Blough-Weis Library, Selinsgrove, Pa.
• Providence Public Library, Rochambeau Branch, Providence, R.I.
• Newport News Public Library System, Newport News, Va.
• North Shore Library, Glendale, Wis.
• Manitowoc Public Library, Manitowoc, Wis.
• Cabell County Public Library, Huntington, W.Va.

Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature grants are still available for public and academic libraries wishing to participate.  Grant applications are now being accepted online for the October 1, 2004, deadline.  For more information, please visit www.ala.org/publicprograms   or www.nextbook.org .

Libraries selected for the project are required to promote and present a five-part discussion series based on one of the four new themes for a public audience.    Each series features discussion programs led by a local scholar selected by the library, and supporting materials developed by ALA and Nextbook.  Each selected library will receive training for the library project director at a national training workshop, program materials and promotional materials, and a $1,500 grant to support workshop travel, program costs and scholar honoraria.

Nextbook is a national initiative to promote books that illuminate 3,000 years of Jewish civilization. Nextbook's programs include: partnerships with public libraries and other organizations to create innovative public programs; a series of short books in which prominent authors take on notable individuals, issues, or events in Jewish history; and a Web site featuring a daily cultural news digest, original features, and annotated reading lists. Nextbook is a gateway to Jewish literature, culture, and ideas for Jews and non-Jews alike. Nextbook is a project of Keren Keshet - The Rainbow Foundation.

The Public Programs Office is a unit of the American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world.    The mission of the ALA Public Programs Office is to foster cultural programming as an integral part of library service.  Established in 1990, the office helps thousands of libraries nationwide develop and host programs that encourage dialogue among community members and works to establish libraries as cultural centers in their communities.